This is my first visit to the gantthead.com PM Central discussion. I have two questions: (1) Can somone suggest me some good book or a web site describing specifics of a telecommunication projects? (2) What is different in managing telecommunication projects comparing to other projects.
Telecommunications projects are as unique as construction of a road to that of a building to building an airplane not withstanding the high level PM activities seem to be the same for any type of complex job. In telecommunications,it depends what is being delivered. It it is a new PBX there are unique things such as the mainframe, battery backup, programing of the system, station number activation etc. In a road project I can see things like road clearing, grading infratructure work, paving etc, but I am sure there are things being one not familure with road contruction I would leave out. I firmly believe to be an effective PM, one needs to be most familure with the industry and technology they are going to deliver.
As for books on telecommunications. I would search for Telecommunications Fundementals topic at a on line book store; also attend some three day seminars. Hope this helps Saving Changes...
As an application PM, I often have to include implementation of telecom equipment as part of my projects. Hence it is interesting to hear that you are managing a telecom project on its own.
Having said that, I would suggest you to identify a suitable application that would drive the implementation of your telecom infrastructure. You always need some sweet to motivate people.
But then you would have to co-manage your project with the application project manager(s). Saving Changes...
When I posted this topic in July (time flies, especially when you are a project manager!), I expected much better response. I was wrong! Why I raised the question? The telecommunication, according to PMI Global Communication Technology Special Interest Group is covering the following applications: Voice/data/video transmission Internet/Intranet/Extranet Switching analog, digital, terrestrial, satellite, microwaves Fiber optics and premise wiring systems Cable and media providers Computer - Telephony Integration
This is huge area! However, I found that we, project managers in telecommunications, contrary to the project mangers in software applications, don't have one single book specialized in project management of telecommunication projects. I understand that we have to be familiar with our industry and technology but I am still trying to find out what we can do differently from let's say construction or software project mangers. If you go for example to PMI bookstore you will find several good boos on PM in software field but no one book on PM in telecommunications.
Vasilj, the telecommunications industry is still relatively small compared to software development, therefore, you will not see a book for your industry anytime soon. Also, PM salaries and consulting rates are a fraction of what a man or woman can make as a software development PM, so you won't see many PMs rushing to your industry anytime soon. Tom Welch, WWW.MoneyWords.Com Saving Changes...
Why focus on what is special about a particular project environment, when there is so much more that is common across industries?
Telecomm is construction (if you're laying cable or erecting cell towers). It is software (if you're working on switching systems). It is new product/service development. It is breakthrough R&D.
Telecomm project management requires understanding objectives, deliverables, and success criteria and the dependencies necessary to achieve them. Telecomm project management requires a process for tracking project status in a way that does not interfere with end-goal performance. Telecomm project management requires an ability to winnow out real priorities for the use of resource time. Telecomm project management needs to provide guidance on what not to work on (or worry about) as well as what to work on (or worry about). Telecomm project management needs to provide tools that support the use of disparate types of both internal and extrernal resources. . . .
So does construction PM, software PM, new product PM, . . .
Once the basics of an effective PM process are understood (and if the basics are in place, there will be minimal chaos), then maybe the specifics of an industry can be used to fine tune performance. But I suspect that 90% of PM performance is found in the basics. . .
. . . basics that are too often ignored because of the excuse that "we're different."
I agree with Frank Patrick's excellent posting on this topic. Telecommunications is a very competitive business. In fact, Ericson announced this week that the company will nolonger manufacture cell phones and Motorola announced plant closing due to loss of market share. Telecommunications may become a mature industry in a much shorter timeframe than the PC industry took, my $0.02... Saving Changes...
